Bill Courtois to present ‘Staying Safe in the North Woods’ Jan. 3

Sunday

Dec 30, 2012 at 2:30 PM

North Country Trail hiker and chapter member and sometimes photographer Bill Courtois will present “Staying Safe in the North Woods” in Rudyard at the January 3 meeting of the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore chapter of the North Country Trail at Pure Country at 6:30 p.m. The presentation is free and an optional pizza buffet will be available as well as the regular menu. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to learn new skills for safe hiking in the woods.

Courtois will share his Wilderness First Aid classroom experience. The two day hands-on course was taught by the non-profit National Outdoors Leadership School at REI in Ann Arbor. The instruction zeroed in on emergency and health situations in areas sometimes distant from immediate medical service. Students learn about patient assessment, how to request help, patient stabilization, and preventative measures including what they should carry in their daypacks.

Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore hosts monthly winter hikes on the North Country National Scenic Trail. Everyone is welcome to gather their snow gear, bring their friends and family, and join HSS on the NCT walks. A camera, water, and extra mitts are a must. HSS supplies a snack from their “Goodie Bucket.”

The January 12 hike at Soldier Lake Campground will be a celebration of Winter Trails Day. A free hotdog roast and cookie buffet will be served by the fireplace in the pavilion. Hikers will meet at the intersection of M-28 and Dick Road (USFS 3139) at 10 a.m. and snowshoe or ski two miles in to the pavilion. The intersection is 6 miles east of M-123.

HSS will lead a February 9 hike is at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Hikers should bring their skis or snowshoes and meet at Fact Shack at the Upper Falls parking area at 10 a.m. The hike will be on the north side of M-123 on the groomed trail. A late lunch at the Tahquamenon Falls Pub and Brewery is optional. The park offers lantern lit skiing in the evening. HSS will hike again on Sunday either to Clark Lake or bushwhack on the NCT. Snowshoes are available for free loan from the park on a first come first serve basis.

The HSS March 9 hike will be at the NCT South Crossing on Dick Road (USFS 3139) at 10 a.m. Hikers will enjoy a brown bag lunch around a bonfire.

For information on the HSS Bill Courtois’ “Staying Safe in the North Woods” presentation, the HSS hikes, or information on the North Country National Scenic Trail contact Stan or Kay Kujawa by e-mailing kay1940@lighthouse.net or calling (989) 350-2826. Information may be also be found at www.northcountrytrail.org/hss and the North Country Trail Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Facebook page.

HSS Event Schedule

January 3: Bill Courtois “Staying Safe in the North Woods Presentation